I actually knew this from the time I met her. It is what attracted us to one another. I saw it in her eyes, and she heard it in my voice. It was inevitable that we would share this. God would use this contagion to manifest His mercy and grace in us and through us. So we got married.
We were relatively early in the manifestation. Only a few signs and symptoms showed, but it was clear that if left unchecked it would lead to the death of both of us.
There was no use in calling in experts for advice. They would only conclude the same. Death awaits. This death comes slow. It starts with allowing the other to have the last word. That is an ongoing process frequently interrupted by the need to get even with an ‘I told you so’.
A loss for the desire for earthly gain follows closely thereafter. This meets strong resistance heralded by the envy and jealousy of seeing others accumulate and prosper by world standards.
Weak knees and nausea develop as we try to avoid the appearance of evil. We became more aware of our entertainment and appetite for pleasure.
This contagion causes heart trouble. Our hearts were troubled when we saw people hurting and going without the necessities of life.
It caused mind troubles, as we were continually invaded with thoughts of how we could better serve the under-served the underclass the under-appreciated.
It caused nervous system disorders. It gave us a heightened sensation in our hands all eyes our ears and eventually it affected our speech. We longed to touch and hear and smell and feel the way Jesus does.
The terminal signs are beginning to set in. Our desire to impact and infect the world is becoming the principal cause for which to live. That cause is to make Jesus the Christ known as Savior of the world and soon returning King.
And as noted, it ends in death. The death of self will and self ambition. We are determined to be united in this death. Jesus bids us all to join Him.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in alluding to this infection wrote:When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die
John 12:25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.